Hemp-brake.



N'o.7'81,398. I PATENTED JAN. 31, 1905.

J. BURNAM.- HEMP BRAKE APPLICATION IILBD JULY 25,1904.

I 'lmemoz v Patented January 31, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE. 1

JAMES BURNAM, or PEYTONTOWN, KENTUCKY.

[ HEMP-BRAKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 781,398, dated January 31, 1905.

Application filed July 26, 1904. Serial No. 218,183.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMES BURNAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Peyton-- town. in the county of Madison, State of Kentucky, have invented certain new'and -useful Improvements in Hemp-Brakes ;and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable'others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This inventionrelates to hemp-brakes; and it has for its object to provide a cheap and simple construction in which the hemp will be treated in an eflicient manner with eXpen-. diture of a. minimum of energy.

In the drawings forming a portion of this specification, and in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views, Figure 1 is a top plan view showing an apparatus embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the'apparatus. Fig. 3 is a detail elevationshowing a portion of the braking-wheel.

Referring now to the'drawings, the present apparatus is shown as embodying a platform or base 5, of wood or other suitable material, although from the following description'fit will beiunderstood that the pivot-post may be anchored in the ground, while the trough may be supported from blocks restingdirectly upon the ground. The base 5 in the present instance is shown circular in form, and at the center thereof is mounted a pivot-post .6, having a reduced upper end 7,' which forms the pivot of the apparatus. 7 Concentric with the pivot-post. are arrangedthe two metallic circular bands 8 and 9, one within the other and spaced apart the required distance, each of the hoops or bands consisting ofa series of sections having their ends joined .by riveting or otherwise, the inner hoop or band being preferably somewhat higher than the'outer one to prevent falling of the hemp-stalks into the inclosure of the inner hoop or band. In

the outer hoop or band is formed a series of equidistant perforationslO, and in the inner hoop or band is formed a corresponding series of equidistant perforations 11, the perforations 10' and 11 alining. in'pairs, and

through each pair of alining perforations is engaged a tie-bolt12, both ends of which are threaded, as illustrated, and upon the threads of each end of each bolt are engaged two nuts 12 and 13, which clamp the corresponding hoop or band between them. These bolts serve to hold the hoops or hands rigidly in spaced relation and form also equidistant cross-bars or spokesbetween the hoops or bands; v

In connection with the parts of the apparatus above described there is employed a sweep 14, which is pivotally engaged at one end with the reduced upper end of the pivot-post and which extends radially above the base 5 and projects beyond the outer hoop or band, where it is provided with a swingletree 15 for hitching a draft-animal. Upon the sweep is rotatably mounted a braking-wheel 16, having a thickness somewhat less than the trough formed by the hoops or bands and having radiating spokes 17 so spaced that as the wheel is rotated'in the trough the spokes will take between the tie-bolts.

In the use of the apparatus the hemp-stalks are thrown into the trough and the sweep is carried around to cause the wheel to rotate in the trough and upon the stalks, with the result that the spokes of the wheel or cogs engage arid force the stalks between the tiebolts, and thus brake them.

supported upon blocks 17, so that their lower edges are above the platform, which permits of ready'refnoval of the broken stalks that drop down between the tie-bolts.

-What is claimed is 1. A hemp-brake comprising concentric hoops, tie-bolts engaged through the hoops and provided each with apair of nuts impinging against the inner and outer faces respectively of each of the hoops,a pivot-post concentric with the hoops, a sweep pivotally engaged with the pivot-post, and a wheel rotatably mounted upon the sweep and disposed with its lower edge between the hoops, said wheel having cogs arranged to engage between the tie-bolts as the wheel is rotated.

2. Ahemp-brake comprising a base, a pair of metallic hoops mounted concentrically above the base, the inner hoop having a greater height than the outer hoop, tie-bolts engaged through the hoops, a pivot-post within and concentric with the inner hoop, a sweep pivoted upon the pivot-post, and a wheel rotatably mounted upon the sweep and disposed with its lower edge portion between the hoops, said wheel having cogs disposed to engage between the tie-bolts.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

his JAMES X k BURNAM.

mar

Witnesses:

CURTIS F. BURNAM, S. S. PARKES. 

